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nishimura

…..at last the weather has cooled down enough to allow me back into hot (spring) water!

It was a rather dull and wet Friday afternoon when I decided to pop into Nishimura Ryokan`s outdoor bath (No.13 on the map),and I chose this one as it is right in the center of Kurokawa , easily accessible from the street and I had limited time for my dip. In fact you can drive right up to the building housing the outdoor baths,but dont forget to call in at the Ryokan reception across the way first to show your Onsen-hopping pass. Once inside the enclosed bathhouse though,with the sound of the river nearby and trees and mossy roof overhead you can easily forget that you are bathing just a stone`s throw from Kurokawa`s main street!

View of Nishimura Ryokan`s outdoor bath complex from the street.

So I was in the bath within moments,and although there were a few cold raindrops on my head I was mostly protected from the rain by overhead foliage and soon warmed up nicely in the quite spacious,rocky pool. Body soap provided,but no shower as far as I could see,so you just need to scoop up bowlfuls of water from the main bath for rinsing.

Whoops…loos must be across the road in the Ryokan building itself though…….that could prove a wee bit inconvenient!

Steamy waters….

Well,just a quick dip today but I`m happy to say that autumn is here and I will be trying out plenty of different outdoor baths in Kurokawa in this,my absolutely favourite, season!

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Resident in Kyushu for over 20 years and fortunate to be living in this beautiful corner of Aso close to a number of onsens including Kurokawa, which I love to visit with friends or my guests from overseas. Keeping this semi-official blog in English for the Kurokawa Onsen Ryokan Association now gives me the perfect excuse...I just HAVE to try all the (public outdoor) baths I possibly can!